Jan-Ken-Pon
Jan-ken-pon is the Japanese version of Rock Paper Scissors and is used when making lots of
decisions in Japan, for example, when paying for lunch, when deciding who will go first playing games,
etc. And it’s not just kids – adults use it too! It’s much the same as in English. You begin by saying:
Saisho wa guu. Jan ken pon! (while pounding your fist)
As you say the word pon, you make the shape of paper (paa), scissors (choki) or rock (guu) with your
hand. The winner is as follows:
Rock vs paper = paper /// Scissors vs paper = scissors /// Rock vs scissors = rock
There is also a variation from the Kumamoto region of Japan called Kuma-ken. You begin by saying:
Hii, fuu, san! (while pounding your fist)
As they say the word san, the players show their hands simultaneously, forming a number from 0 to 5
with their fingers, and calling out this number. Whoever has chosen the largest number wins. For
instance, 1 beats 0, 2 beats 1, etc. However, 0 beats 5.
Simon Forsyth, CTYI Japanese, Autumn 2009
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